North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has told a visiting Chinese envoy his country's goal is a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.
China's presidential envoy Tang Jiaxuan met Kim in Pyongyang Wednesday. He brought a message from President Hu Jintao, expressing hope that the countries' cooperation would yield substantial progress in six-party talks slated for later this month, Xinhua reported Thursday.
Kim told Tang that his country "expects the next round of the talks to be held on time and make positive progress," China's official news agency reported. He also expressed appreciation for China's efforts to resume the dialogue.
North Korea's refusal to participate scuttled a round of the talks last September.
Tang said that China seeks denuclearization, stability and peace on the Korean peninsula, and promotes the resolution of conflicts through dialogue.
Tang earlier met Kim Yong Nam, president of the Supreme People's Assembly, after paying his respects to the late President Kim Il Sung at the Memorial Palace where his body is preserved. He also laid a wreath at a memorial to commemorate Chinese soldiers who died during the Korean War.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
